Fast Start Helps 17th-ranked Hokies Cruise Past Tribe, 44-3

09/22/07 6:00PM

Blacksburg, Va. - Brandon Ore scored two first-half touchdowns, and the Virginia Tech defense and special teams each turned in big plays early to help the 17th-ranked Hokies cruise past William and Mary, 44-3, Saturday afternoon at Lane Stadium.

Virginia Tech (3-1) went in front 6-0 on a pair of Jud Dunleavy field goals on its first two possessions, and Ore’s 2-yard touchdown run extended the margin to 13-0 just 10 minutes in.

Brandon Flowers then returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown on the next series, giving the Hokies a commanding 20-0 edge with 3:46 remaining in the opening quarter.

W&M (2-2) managed only two first downs and 21 total yards in the first quarter, punting three times.

Virginia Tech pushed the lead to 27-0 on Kenny Lewis’ 8-yard run in the final minute of the opening frame, and Eddie Royal returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown after the Tribe’s first series of the second quarter to make it 34-0.

The Tribe, which saw its two-game winning streak snapped, scored its only points later in the second. Jake Phillips (Warm Springs, Va.) engineered an impressive 94-yard march to set up Brian Pate’s (Fredericksburg, Va.) 22-yard field goal.

Phillips completed 5-of-7 attempts on the drive for 98 yards, finding five different receivers. Joe Nicholas (Sugarloaf, Pa.) pulled in a 47-yard reception to start the drive, and Drew Atchison (Charlottesville, Va.) had a 27-yard catch in the series.

Virginia Tech answered on its next possession though, keyed by another big return by Royal. The Hokies took over at the Tribe 34-yard line, and on the first snap freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed a swing pass on the left side to Ore, who raced 34 yards into the end zone to send the Hokies into the break with a 41-3 advantage.

Taylor completed 6-of-13 attempts for 72 yards and rushed for 52 yards on five attempts in one half of action. Ore finished with four catches for 48 yards and 25 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Behind Phillips, W&M was able to build some offensive momentum in the second half, though the Tribe’s only scoring chance came up short when Pate’s 33-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright.

Phillips finished with 243 yards passing, completing 17-of-40 attempts, but was picked off three times. Atchison was the Tribe’s leading receiving with five catches for 81 yards. Nicholas finished with 63 yards on two receptions, and R.J. Archer (Charlottesville, Va.) had three catches for 39 yards.

Against a stout defensive effort by the Tribe in the second half, Virginia Tech gained only 94 total yards and just four first downs. The Hokies finished with 287 total yards to the Tribe’s 262.

Adrian Tracy (Sterling, Va.) recorded 3.0 tackles for loss, including one of the team’s season-high four quarterback sacks. David Caldwell (Montclair, N.J.) paced the Tribe with 10 total tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. W&M had eight stops in total in the backfield. Josh Rutter (Union Bridge, Md.) and Sean Lissemore (Dumont, N.J.) also recorded sacks.

Thomas Schonder (Round Hill, Va.) was the Tribe’s leading rusher with 42 yards on nine carries, though W&M finished with a net of only five yards rushing.

W&M resumes CAA conference play and returns home next Saturday to host Towson at 1 p.m.

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